RUGBY FOOTBALL

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12181, 4 July 1925, Page 8

RUGBY FOOTBALL

NOTES ON TARANAKI MATCH WELLINGTON HAS STRONG TEAM ALL BLACKS OUTSTANDING (By "Spectator ”) The match was played on a rain-sonV« ed ground, and, though the conditions overhead were good, the slush and mud militated against the players showing their best form. The Taranaki pack were, or looked, much heavier, an<L this hampered the visitors considerably. Given a fine dry day and ground the difference in tho scoring would have been greater. There v as a certain raggedness about the play at times; hut the visitors could not be blamed for that, as the home side fought all the time to keep the play a & close as possible. Although there was an element of luck about Wellington's first try there was no question about the other three be’.ng well obtained. With a little luck cn their side the visitors might easily have scored two more tries. The Taranaki scores were obtained bv breaks away by the forwards, and it seemed in one instance if the defence wilted at the critical:*moment.. ONE WEAKNESS IN BACKS showed a great deal of inv proveme’nt in their form as compared with the last couple of seasons, and the last tour, has made a wonderful difference to Porter, and Svenson. The .bagks played .well, and it was notice‘table that tliey ran ns far as possible with the‘ball, and ran hard. The combination'was fftirlv effective, hut Tilyard did not «eem to fit in too well at times, and did not time h*s pass too well. Walter, full-back, is a thoroughly sound player, and did extremely well: b»s fielding and kicking were alike excellent, and he has also a sound sense of position. Svenson was the best three-cmartcr or the ground, and showed high-class in all that he did. Malfroy, on the other wing, did nut get the same chances, but is a much improved nlayer, and runs with greater deI e^niination. Tilyard. in the centre, did a lot of mod things, but doe* not fill the eye ns a clar-s centre, three-quarter. The tw-> five-eichth®. Nirholl* and Love, did all that was required, and wa«-e a source of danger always. Their fielding of tb» ball was Al. and they opened up the play when at all possible. Warwick has developed into a really good’ half-back both on attack and defence. ard when he develops his blind side play will be thoroughly well-equip-ped. FORWARDS UP TO STANDARD Porter, on the wing, completely overshadowed his opponent, and had a field day. His work was quite an e.veopener to the spectators. The forwards were well IpH c '*d Shearer, and if kept together make a pack worthy of the Wellington** nart davs.. With a littto more the "tiger” in their rnshe< they will go f ’r. At present they are a little wea’> on the line, but their work aleng the emund is quite sound. Tt is a piiv they have rot a b ; t more weight, as they will need it arraiT*rt tho southern packs and Hawke’s Bay. t Wellington'* serummincr a way ahead of TaranaVi’«. and they hooked the ball more regularly. TARANAKI PLAYERS Turning to the Taranaki s’de one h«k to confess to a great deal of disappointment with the ol»v of the backs. Not one decent eonccrted movement vai shown, and all showed •nosiHou to part wth the hall et : l hazards. The : r Vieking wa« muon ferirr to that of the victors, and ; handling generally was a little uooprtnw. Brown has not improved in his play, ard is distinctly a weak mnn. The winders were niiteU<s«ort. e-d th« Inside hacks were too to do rnv good. Their defence was fnr-lr good, t.nt defensive nlav alone doe« not win matches theep times. The forwards did we’l m f- 7 and saved the gn*np from deponin'* u to a rout. Their rush e < were solid, and kent the hnll well under control, but n spite of their advantage* in reach pM we ; ght did not disoia~ any wonderful work on the lino-out. Ther» was e lark of cohesion in the scrum, due doubt to unfamiliaritv with one enot I ’*'-, and this ouite nullified the c-root advantage in weight. Xlrtunrh one r-an ooirt out fau’K ed, lib. the "•'imp se—e<l to jsbnw the r'wovrrnent tlm «.«■<>ml-*-1 of nlav that is being made at the picrent time.